The New Orleans Saints injury report should be a lengthy one considering how injured the team was going into the San Francisco 49ers game Sunday, how beat up the Saints were after the loss to the 49ers and the short week as they take on the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday.

Interim coach Joe Vitt said Strief wasn't close to playing against the 49ers as Strief missed his third consecutive game with a groin injury. Vitt said he does feel like Strief could be close to playing Thursday in Atlanta.

Vitt also said Harris won't play in the Falcons game after sustaining an injury Sunday. Harris was on crutches and had his right leg heavily wrapped in the locker room after Sunday's game. The likely scenario is that Harris will end up on injured reserve as Vitt said the Saints will work out some offensive linemen Monday because of all the injuries.

Brown (knee) missed Sunday's game and may not be ready to play in Atlanta either. The Saints were down to their fourth right tackle as William Robinson played most of the Niners game as Harris sustained his leg injury in the first quarter.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo said Johnny Patrick did an admirable job filling in at nickel cornerback with injuries sidelining White and Mack (concussion). Spagnuolo said he would like have White back for the Falcons, but he was unsure of White's health after the rookie cornerback missed his second consecutive game with a knee injury.

"He was solid and he had a really good game in the game he got hurt if you go back," Spagnuolo said about White, who had an interception and two pass defenses in the Saints' win over the Falcons on Nov. 11. "He was kind of coming on. And when you play young guys, some times you have to be a little patient with them. I learned my lesson a few years back when I was very impatient at that position when I kept rolling people through and nobody got good."

Wide receivers Marques Colston and Lance Moore left the Niners game with head injuries, but both passed concussion tests and re-entered the game. Moore said after the loss that he was fine and wouldn't have returned to the game had he not passed the test.

Brees said Monday his heart skipped a beat each time seeing Colston and Moore leave the game.

"You never want to see that with anybody, especially guys that you're throwing to," Brees said. "I'm glad that they're alright, but that's something you never want to see."